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  • Title: Letter: Order contraceptives and the liver.
    Author: Elder GH, Magnus IA.
    Journal: Br Med J; 1975 Jan 04; 1(5948):37. PubMed ID: 1120231.
    Abstract:
    The occurrence of porphyria cutanea tarda symptomatica (PCTS) in 5 patients aged 20-31 who were taking oral contraceptives is reported. None of the patients had a history of previous liver disease, other family members with porphyria, or other than infrequent social drinking. The porphyria appeared within 6 months of starting oral contraceptives in 3 of the patients. It is suggested that the estrogenic component of the oral contraceptives precipitates PCTS in these patients, since the syndrome also occurs in those treated with natural and synthetic estrogens for carcinoma of the prostate or menopausal symptoms. Appropriate laboratory tests on urine and feces samples are necessary to distinguish between PCTS and variegate porphyria when a young woman presents with the skin lesions characteristic of cutaneous hepatic porphyrias.
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